NORWALK, Conn. -- The gold standard in kitchens for over 200 years,
Wusthof's
knives have stood the test of time. However, in order to continue their legacy of quality, the family-owned company has turned to 21st century technology to complement their centuries' old practices.

“The Wusthof family has honored traditions for hundreds of years,” said Andrea Arnold, manager of the German knife maker's Connecticut outlet store. “They still produce quality steel products in Germany, just as blacksmiths have done for years centuries, but we now utilize cutting edge technology to expedite and improve the process.”

Wusthof's Precision Edge Technology, or PEtec, offers superior blade sharpness through a process of computer-controlled robotics. PEtec yields a smoother, more refined edge with increased sharpness and sharpness retention along the entire length of the blade. The result is a knife with an advantage for every home or professional chef.

"Instead of shaping each knife with a hammer, heating the steel and shaping it by hand, the technology allows us to produce knives quicker and with more precision," said Arnold.

Wusthof's PEtec technology first uses lasers to measures the knife, before computers calculate the precise sharpening angle for each blade. Finally, precision robots sharpen the blades on a whetstone and are given a final polish with a specialized disk.

"The process of making our knives is complicated, but the end result is a unique, consistently high quality and unreproducible knife," said Arnold.

Wusthof has produced knives and other high-quality steel products since 1814 in Solingen, Germany, nicknamed the “The City of Blades.” While the quality and craftsmanship has remained the same, the advancement of technology over the last decade has improved the process of forging and crafting the knives.

"Though we have pride in our tradition, using cutting edge technology helps us stay at the top of our game," said Arnold.